Finding Leadership Lessons in the Most Unexpected Places
Sometimes you come upon leadership lessons in the least expected places. This past Saturday, as I sat outside my daughter’s ballet class, a sole sheet of paper that hung on the bulletin board caught my eye. The title on the lavender hued flyer read “Rules for a Dancer”. To pass time, I read the rules. What I found is a treasure trove of lessons brilliantly transferable from dancers to leaders. I thought these principles worth sharing whether you are an aspiring leader or already an effective leader in your own right.
So here they are, listed in no particular order:
Leadership is hard. No leader ever became successful riding on their natural born talents only. The world of leadership is akin to an extreme sport. Natural ability will only get us so far. Leaders must work hard and persevere.
You won’t always get what you want. You don’t always get the role you wanted, the results you want, hear the praise you want, make the money you want, see companies run the way you want, etc. This teaches humility and respect for process of leadership. The faster you accept this, the faster you can get on with being impactful. You’ll never be 100% sure it will work but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.
There is a lot you don’t know. There is always more a leader can learn. Even our least favorite bosses, team members, and customers can teach you something. The minute you think you know it all, you stop being a valuable asset.
There may not be a tomorrow. A leader never knows when things will go off course… A strategy changes, the economy takes a dive, a personal challenge takes place. Lead every day as if it is your final opportunity to do so. Don’t save your passion for leading for the big moments. Infuse it even in your day to day routine.
There’s a lot you can’t control. Don’t waste your talent and energy worrying about things you can’t control. Focus on honing your leadership skills and being the best leader you can be. Keep an open mind and positive attitude.
Information is not true knowledge. Knowledge comes from experience. You can discuss a task a hundred times and go to multiple meetings, but unless you get out there and engage with your organization, you will only have a conceptual understanding what’s happening. Find opportunities to get out beyond the executive suite. You must experience what is happening throughout your organization, with your customers and the industry to call yourself a true leader.
Someone else will have more than you or be better than you. It does not matter. Rather than get caught up in what others are doing around you, focus on the things you are good at, the things you need to work on and the things that make you most impactful as a leader.
You can’t change the past. Everyone has a past. Everyone has made mistakes and everyone has glorious moments they want to savor. Effective leadership forces you to focus on the present. To be at the top of your leadership game, you have to be in the moment; the minute you take your eye off the ball, mistakes happen. If they do, see #12.
The only person who can make you happy is you. Leadership and work, in and of itself, cannot make you happy. The root of your happiness comes from your relationship with yourself, not from what role you are given, how much money you make, what company you work for, etc. Sure, these things have effects on your mood and outlook but in the long run it who you are on the inside that make you happy.
There will always be people who don’t like you. Leaders are on public display when they make hard decisions, drive change, and even the smallest actions such as who they talk to in the cafeteria. Critics abound. You can’t be everything to everyone. No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently. So listen to others and concentrate on what you know in your gut is right.
Sometimes you will fail. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, following the best advice, you will fail. Failure is a part of life. Failure can be the catalyst to some of your greatest growth and learning experiences. IF you never failed, you would never value your successes. Be willing to fail. When it happens to you, embrace the lessons that come with failure.
You will at times have to go above and beyond the call of duty. Every leader has at one time or another had to extend themselves and their organization further then what they thought they were capable of. This causes undue stress. There are many good reasons to put in the extra effort and time… and there are just as many reasons not to do so. Ask yourself if the cause is worthy and if it is the only way to get to the desired results. Go into the situation fully aware of the implication on you and others. And make sure to recognize when it’s time to get back to a normal pace.
Changing course is sometimes good. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. I f you keep doing the bare minimum, don’t complain when you and your organization don’t move to the next level. If you want to grow beyond your comfort zone, you must push yourself beyond your self-imposed limitations.
You will never feel 100% ready. Nobody feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Leaders have to be willing to take risks. From taking a new role, to making an unpopular decision, to changing course, leaders must have a flexible mind and attitude. The greatest opportunities in life force you to grow beyond your comfort zone, which means you won’t feel totally comfortable or ready for it.
So there you have it. Simple yet powerful leadership principles found in the most random of places. Take note of these lessons for yourself. Share them with others.
Note: The 14 rules provided in this article were adapted from an unsourced flyer titled “Rules for a Dancer” on the bulletin board of a professional ballet school in the Washington DC area.
– Muriel Maignan Wilkins